CULTURE: Indoors (recommended) – Sow seed 8-12 weeks before last frost date. Cover seed lightly with medium. Seed is slow to germinate and sensitive to excess moisture, so keep medium on the dry side until emergence. Transplant to cell packs or larger containers after true leaves appear. Harden off and transplant outdoors after danger of frost has passed. Outdoors – Only in areas with long growing seasons; sow seeds after last frost date, barely covering seed.

LIGHT/SOIL: Full sun in almost any soil.

SPACING: 18-24″.

USE: Fresh cut flower, borders, beds, containers, mass plantings.

HARVEST: Outer 2-4 layers of flowers are open.

Cultivation

Some species, are used as ornamental plants. They are valued in butterfly gardening in suitable climates, attracting Lepidoptera such as the Hummingbird Hawk-moth, Chocolate Albatross or the Pipevine Swallowtail , and also hummingbirds, especially Common Vervain , which is also grown as a honey plant.

Verbena plants are drought-resistant, tolerating full to partial sun, and growing well in well-drained, average soils. Plants are usually grown from seed. Once the plants are established, they require little care and will spread out to cover the flower bed space allotted for them